Sheet-feeding machine



R. E. KEMPER.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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o JIT R. E. KEMPER.

EET FEEDING MAcHmE.

1,357,460. E 4' PawnaNOv. 2,1920.

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R. E. KEMPER.

SHEET FEEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 4. |920.

1 ,357,460, Pafntd Nov. 2, 1920.

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SHEET FEIEDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rE.4. 1920.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

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ROBERT E. KEMPER, OF RENSSELAER, NEW YORK.

SHEET-EEEDING MACHINE.

Application led February 4, 1920.

2 0 all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT E. KEMPER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rensselaer, in the county of Rensselaer and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet- Feeding Machines; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which show a form or embodiment of the invention, selected by me for the purpose of illustrating the same, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.

In the operation of machines for feeding sheets and like articles, it is customary to provide means for supporting a pile of sheets, and feeding means for feeding or delivering a single sheet from the pile. in conjunction with sheet advancing means usuall v in the form of a rotary comber for engaging the topmost sheet of the pile and moving it into position to be engaged by the feeding means. ln such devices it is usual to interrupt the operation of the sheet advancing means intermittently. as b V raising the comber out of operative relation with the pile of sheets for the purpose of permitting the topmost sheet to be withdrawn. and to provide some auxiliary means Yfor clamping or otherwise holding the remaining sheets so as to prevent them from being disturbed bv the forward movement of the topmost sheet. ln such devices there is a loss of efficiency, as the comber or other advancing means out of operation for a `portion of the c vcle of the machine, during which time it effects no useful purpose.

The object of my present invention is to provide a sheet feeding mechanism in which the sheet advancing means is continuouslyv operated at all times upon the sheet of the pile, and is so located with respect to the sheet feeding means that at the instant the topmost sheet is in position to be engaged h v the feeding means, the sheet ad 'ancing means passes olf of the topmost sheet and into contact with the next sheet below, which will be held by the sheet advancing means, or comber, from forward movement Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

serial No. 356 316.

with the topmost sheet, while at the same time the sheet advancing means is also feeding the lower sheet with which it is in engagement, thereby producing a continuous effective operation of the sheet advancing means, and dispensing with the necessity for auxiliary means for holding the other sheets of the pile against movement with the topmost sheet as it, is drawn ott' by the feeding means. The sheet advancing means is also adjustable with respect to the feeding means in order to accommodate 4different lengths of sheets or articles to be fed, and I also prefer to operate the sheet advancing means at lower surface speed than the feeding means, the latter being normally operated at a speed suitable to the machine, in conjunction with which it is used, as a printing press, folding machine, or the like. I also provide means for varying the relative speeds of the feeding means and the sheet advancing means, preferably by varying the speed of the sheet advancing means, as it is preferable to operate the feeding means at a substantially uniform surface speed, the variations in the speed of the sheet advancing means accommodating the nachine to different lengths of sheets or other articles to be fed and delivered. I also provide means for elevating the support for the pile of sheets so as to keep the top of the pile at substantially the same point at all times, and in order to render its action automatic, l provide means under the control of the sheet advancing means. or combcr, whereby when the topmost sheet is at tho proper level. the comber will be raised sulliciently to operate a throw-outI mechanism and interrupt the vertical feed of the pile supportingmeans, which feed will be resumed as soon as the rem `ml of sheets from the pile has lowered the comber or sheet advancing means sufficiently to permit of the rengagement of the parts of the throw-out mechanism. M v invention also contemplates the employment in some instances of an auxiliarvY device, preferably in the forln of an idle roller weight, adjustable toward and from the feed mechanism. and adapted to rest upon one of the lower sheet-s of the pile below the topmost sheet, and preferably the third sheet in the pile` for the purpose of preventing the forward movement of the lower sheets of the pile during the rapid feed of the topmost sheet, and the slower feed of the second sheet before referred to. My invention also provides for the lateral adjustment of the sheet advancing means or comber so that it may be made to engage the center of the pile of sheets, which may vary some in width at different times, and I also provide the pile supporting means with adjustable guiding means for positioning the pile of sheets thereon. The idle wheel or weight before referred to is also adjustable aterally of the machine to accommodate sheets of different widths.

'Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 represents a right side elevation of a machine embodying my invention, which I have selected for purposes of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a left side elevation of the machine.

Fig. f3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. -l is a vertical longitudinal section of the ma hine on the line fi in Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the machine on the line 5--5 of F ig. 8 looking in the opposite direction as indicated by the arrows in that figure.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the machine on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 looking 1n the direction of the arrows.

I will new proceed to describe the mechanical parts assembled in the embodiment of my invention as they are shown in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the particular form of gearing, the particular shape and configuration of the parts, and other details of construction, are not material to the invention, and may be departed from in other embodiments thereof. In the drawings 1 represents the main frame of the machine, which conveniently coinprises a pair of side frames connected by suitable transversely disposed parts, and forming, with the connected and supported parts, a unitary structure which may be supported adjacent to or attached to a printing press, folding machine, or other mechanism to which sheets or other articles are to be delivered, in any desired or convenient manner. 2 represents a horizontally disposed and vertically movable feed table for supporting a pile of sheets or other articles to be individually fed. The said table is arranged to move vertically between the side plates of the main frame, and means are provided for supportingit and adjusting it vertically so as to maintain the top of the pile of sheets at a substantially uniform level at all times. In the present instance, the table 2 is carried by a vertically movable screw shaft 3, the threads of which are engaged by a rotatable nut 4, supported by a bracket 5 or cross bar forming part of the main frame, the said nut beingr provided with suitable means for rotating it. In this instance the nut is provided with a worm wheel 6 which is engaged by a worm 7 on a worm shaft 8, extending transversely of the machine, and provided at its outer end witha ratchet wheel 9, adapted to be operated by means of a pawl 10, carried in this instance by a crank pin 11 on a sprocket wheel 12, or other rotary part operatively connected with, or actuated by, the driving shaft of the machine, here indicated at 13. l also provide means hereinafter described for automatically t irowing out of operation the pawl 1t) when the topmost sheet of the pile has reached the desired level, and for bringing it into operative relation with the ratchet wheel 9 whenever the top of the pile falls below the desired level, by the removal of sheets thereirom. Adjacent to one end of the feed table 2, I provide feeding means for feeding and 'delivering from the machine the sheets or other articles singly, said means consisting in the present instance of a. pair of pinch rolls 14 and 15, the roll 14 in this instance being driven by means of a sprocket wheel 1G on the shaft 17 of the roll, connected by chain 18 with the sprocket wheel 12 before referred to, on the driving shaft 13, and the roll 15 being provided with trunnions 19 mounted in vertical slots 20 in the frame (see Fig. 1) so that the roll 15 is held by gravity in frictional relation with the driving roll 14, but these feed rolls may be formed and driven in other ways if desired. I prefer to provide a vertically disposed wall or abutment 21 adjacent to the delivery end of the feed table 2, and an inclined supporting plate 22 extending from said wall or abutment to the feed roll 14 to support the sheets as they are fanned by the action of the sheet advancing mechanism or comher, hereinafter described.

represents the sheet advancing device or comher, which may be of usual form as shown, comprising a pair of disks carrying a circular series of small rolls 24 for engaging the sheets and advancing them by frictional contact therewith. I provide means for permitting the comber to move vertically, and also for adjusting the comber toward and from the feed rolls to accommodate sheets of various lengths which it may be desired to feed in the machine.- In this instance I have shown a longitudinally movable carriage comprising a pair of side plates 25 having a sliding engagement with the side plates of the main frame 1. and in this instance provided with lateral guides 2G resting upon the upper faces of the side frames, and slidable thereon, the said side plates 25 being connected by cross bars 27 for holding them in spaced relation. The carriage can be secured in any adjusted position upon the main frame to which it may be moved. by any suitable means. In the present instance I have shown the carriage lli) provided with depending arm 28 carrying a thumb screw 29 for engaging the frame 1 of the machine, and holding the carriage in its adjusted position with respect to the feed rolls. Mounted in the carriage is a transverse shaft 30 upon which is pivotally mounted the supporting means for the comber, which in this instance comprises a hollow gear case 31, preferably formed in two parts and united in any suitable manner, as by screws or bolts, and carrying at its outer end a short shaft 32 which projects at one side of the gear case 31 and carries the comber 23, thus permitting the comber to rise and fall on the pivotal connection between the gear case and the shaft 30. In order to impart continuous rotary motion to the comber, the shaft 32 thereof is provided within the gear case with a pinion 33 connected by an idle pinion 34 with a gear wheel 35 on the shaft 30 (see Fig. 5). The shaft 3() is provided in this instance with a spiral gear 36 meshing with a similar spiral gear 37 mounted on a longitudinally disposed shaft 38 by means of a spline or feather 39 of considerable length, the spiral gear 37 being located between brackets 4() forming part of the adjustable carriage (sec Figs. 3, 5, and 6) so that neither the longitudinal adjustment of the carriage nor the vertical movement of the comber will inter-L fere with the continuous driving of the latter.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the carriage will be so adjusted that the portion of the comber which engages the topmost sheet, indicated at X in the figure, will pass oil" of that sheet onto the second sheet at substantially the instant that the other end of the sheet X is gripped between the pinch rolls 14%15, or in other words, is in position to be engaged by the feeding mechanism, after which the comber will rest u on the neXt sheet below sheet X. and will ho d it from being withdrawn by the movement of sheet X, while at the same time advancing it into position to be engaged by the pinch rolls. I prefer to operate the comber at such a speed that it will effect a much slower advance of the sheet with which it is engaged than that produced by the operation of the pinch rolls, so that the pinch rolls may completely withdraw the topmost sheet X before the next sheet has been moved the required distance by the comber to bring it into the bite of the pinch rolls, at which time the comber again disengages the topmost sheet, and the operation is repeated. As the lengths of the sheets will he different in different jobs, it is desirable to provide means for varying the relative speeds of the feed rolls and comber, and as the feed rolls are usually operated at a speed suitable for the machine with which the sheet feeding machine is employed, I have provided means for imparting a wide range of variation to the speed of the comber, and to enable its speed to be aecurately and quickly regulated without interfering with the adjustment of the comber with respect to the feed rolls, and for the purpose of accommodating the machine to deliver sheets of different lengths without overlapping the sheets, and without causing spaces to occur between them. To this end the shaft 38 is provided in this instance with a beveled gear 41, meshing with a beveled gear 42, on a shaft 43, mounted in the main frame and provided with a sprocket wheel V14, connected by a chain 45, with a sprocket 46, on a shaft 47, which is driven from the driving shaft 13 by means providing for a wide variation of speed of the driving and driven shaftsv` in this instance a pair of oppositely tapered pulleys being employed, and connected by a driving belt capable of being shifted laterally thereon. In this instance the shaft 13 is provided with a tapered. pulley 48, and the shaft 47 is provided with a tapered pulley 49, connected with the pulley 48 by means of a driving belt 50, which is engaged by a belt guide 51, supported upon a transverse bar 52 extending transversely between thev side frames of the main frame, and provided with belt guides 53 for engaging the belt 50. The belt guide 51 may be secured in itsradjusted position by means of a set screw 54, and I may provide the transverse supporting bar 52 with a scale, as indicated at 55, for example, in Fig. 6, corresponding with the length of the paper sheets or other articles to be fed, to facilitate the adjustment of the driving mechanism for the comber to the particular length of sheets being operated upon. Obviously by the shifting of the belt guide 51 to different positions, a wide range of variation in the speed of the comber can be quickly and readily obtained.

It is obvious that for different jobs the width of the sheets to be fed will naturally vary somewhat, and as it is desirable that the comber should be so disposed as to engage the sheets substantially centrally, it is necessary to provide for thc lateral adjustnient of the comber. To this end I provide the shaft 30 upon which the supporting gear case 3l is pivoted, with a longitudinal key or feather 5G, which connects the gear 35 with the shaft 30. while permitting the entire gear case and the comber to be moved transversely of the machine tothe desired position, substantially centrally with respect to the pile of sheets. In order to prevent the accidental lateral movement of the comber, suitable means are' provided for holding it against such lateral movement, which may be of any desired character. In the present instance, I have shown above the comber, a transverse rod mounted in the outer ends of a pair of swinging arms 58 pivoted on one of the cross bars 27 of the carriage, and forming a vertical swinging frame. A link 59 is connected to the gear case 31 and is provided at its upper end with a slot 60 engaging the cross bar 57 and the means for preventing the accidental lateral shifting of the comber is in this instance applied to this link, the same comprising a boss adjustable laterally on the cross bar 57, and held inposition by means of a set screw 62, said boss being provided with a guiding projection 62 engaging the link to prevent the lateral movement thereof and of the comber with which the link is connected. 1 do not, however, limit myself to this means for securing the comber against lateral movement.

rThe engagement of the cross bar 57 with the lower end of the slot 60 in the link 59 enables the comber to support the hinged frame 58, and to this frame is connected the means for throwing into and out of operation the feed table elevating devices before referred to so that they will be actuated by any chan ge of elevation of the comber due to the removal or delivery of sheets from the pile and the consequent lowering of the level of the top` of the pile.

While l do not wish to be limited to the specific devices shown, as before stated, in the present instance, the swinging frame or one of the arms 58 thereof is provided with a laterally extending arm or bracket 63 upon which rests one end of an elevating arm 64 or throw-out arm pivoted at 65 to the main frame of the machine, the said throw-out arm 64 being provided with a bracket 66 carrying an adjusting screw 67 longitudin ally adjustable with respect to the bracket, by means of a nut 68, the said screw being connected by a link or chain 69 with the pawl lever l0, before described, for actuating the feed ratchet 9 on the worm shaft 8 of the mechanism for vertically feeding the paper table. lhen the paper table has been adjusted to the proper elevation to bring the top sheet of the pile at the proper level with respect to the pinch rolls 14e-15, the comber, which will rest upon the topmost sheet, will hold the throw-out mechanism in such position, through the link 59 and swinging frame 5S, as to raise the pawl 10 just out of operative engagement with the ratchet 9, in which position the parts are shown in Fig. 2. 1t being understood that the pawl 10 is continually operated by means of the eccentric or crank pin ll on the shaft 13, no feeding action of the paper table upward will take place until the removal of sheets from the pile has occurred sufficient to lower the comber to such an extent as to permit the pawl l0 to engage the ratchet 9, when the worm 7 will be actuated to partially rotate the worm wheel 6 and nut 4, until the table is raised a suilicient distance, so that the throw-out mechanism again raises the pawl 10 out of operative relation with its ratchet 9. The throw-out mechanism is therefore automatically operated and the feed table is automatically maintained in such position that the topmost sheet is at all times in substantially the same horizontal plane, regardless of the thickness of the individual sheets or articles fed.

It will also be seen that as the link 59 can be readily moved with the comber laterally when it is necessary to adjust the comber, by loosening the said screw 62, the control of the throw-out mechanism by the comber is always insured, regardless of its position transversely with respect to the main frame.

The feed table 2 is conveniently provided with one or more lateral guides for the pile of paper supported on the table. In the present instance l have shown one such guide, indicated at 70, secured to the table, adjustable by means of bolts 7l extending through slots 72, indicated in Fig. 3, and in dotted lines in Fig. 6, to permit the guide 70 to be adjusted laterally of the table, one of the side plates of the frame forming the other longitudinal guide, for the paper pile, as indicated in Fig. 6, although 1 may employ two adjustable guides 70, one on either side of the paper pile if preferred.

l will now describe the operation of the mechanism, the construction and arrangement of which has been previously indicated. A pile of paper, indicated at 1), is placed on the table 2 and the longitudinal guide 70 is adjusted laterally, so as to engage one edge of the pile of sheets, upon the topmost sheet X of which the comber 23 rests. The longitudinally sliding frame 25 is adjusted longitudinally of the main frame l of the machine, so as to bring its paper engaging portion` which will normally be directly below its axis, at a distance from the bite of the pinch rolls, substantially equal to the length of the sheets to be fed from the pile, and the carriage will be secured in position by the screw 29. Tlf he belt shifter or guide 5l will be adjusted so as to regulate the speed of the comber in proper relation to the speed of the pinch rolls, so that the comber will feed a sheet to the pinch rolls in substantially the same time that is required for the pinch rolls te deliver the preceding sheet, the comber being driven sufficiently slower than the feed rolls to accomplish this result. The driving shaft 13 will be operated in any suitable manner, as by means of a driving chain or belt 73, engaging a driving wheel 7l, or sprocket, and transmitting power from a motor or from a moving shaft or device. In the operation of the machine, the comber will fan out the sheets in the manner indicated in Fig. 4, so that the uppermost sheets will project more or less beyond the abutment 21 and over the inclined plate 22, and the action of the comber will gradually advance the topmost sheet X until its forward end is within the bite of the pinch rolls, which, as before stated, have a higher surface speed. At this instant the comber 23 passes off of the rear end of the topmost sheet X, and engages the sheet beneath. The pinch rolls rapidly draw the topmost sheet forward and deliver it from the machine, while the comber continues to slowly advance the next lower sheet of the pile, while at the same time holding it from being drawn forward by frictional engagementI with the sheet X. As soon as the topmost sheet has been delivered by the pinch rolls, the next sheet, now-becomes the topmost sheet, and will be brought into the bite of the pinch rolls, and at the same instant the comber will pass off of the rear end of said sheet, and will engage the next sheet of the pile. As soon as the removal of one or more sheets has lowered the level of the comber, sufficiently, to actuate the throw-out mechanism, so as to permit the pawl l() to reengage the ratchet 9 of the worm wheel shaft S, the vertical feeding of the paper table 2 will be effected, so as to raise the table and the pile of paper thereon sufficiently to bring the topmost sheet to the normal level, which will be maintained at all times in a substantially uniform manner as the feeding of the individual sheets progresses. It will be seen that there is no interruption in the operation of the comber, which is at all times feeding a sheet forward, and the Successive sheets are gripped and delivered by the feeding mechanism or pinch rolls, one after the other, without any appreciable interval or space between them so that the machine is rendered, highly efficient and continuously operated.

In some instances I have found it desirable to supplement the action of the devices heretofore described by providing means for engaging the sheet or sheets below that with which the comber is in immediate contact, for the purpose of slightly retarding the forward movement of the upper sheets of the pile, and particularly the sheet immediately below that in contact' with the comber, without entirely preventing the forward movement thereof, or fanning out effect produced by the action of the comber. To this end I have provided, in some instances, a weighted roller or roller weight, indicated at 75, which as shown herein, is merely an idle roller of metal of suitable weight, carried on a shaft or stud 7 5" at the forward end of an adjustable arm 76. pivotally mounted in the carriage 25. In this instance I have shown the carriage 25 provided with a shaft 77 upon which is mounted a boss 78, and provided with a sleeve portion through which the arm 76 extends,y the said arm being adjustable longitudinally in the sleeve and secured in position by set screw 80. The boss 78 may be adjusted laterally or transversely of the frame upon the shaft 77, and is held in adjusted position by a hook arm 79, secured to a boss 81, mounted on the shaft 77 along side of the boss 7S, and adapted to be rigidly secured t'o the shaft by means of a screw 82 (see Figs. 3 and 5). I also prefer to provide a stop for limiting the downward movement of the weighted roller` 74, and in this instance I have shown the boss 78 provided with an upwardly extending arm 83 secured thereto by a set screw, the upper end of the arm being in position to engage one of the cross bars 27 of the carriage 275, to prevent the weighted roller 74 from descending too far. This stop mechanism is mainly for the purpose of supporting the weighted roller 74 to facilitate the placing of the pile of paper on the paper table and adjusting the pile to the proper level in starting the machine. As will be seen, the weighted roller 74 can be adjusted lengthwise of the machine independently of the carriage, and I prefer to so adjust the arm 76 that the weighted roller 74 will engage the sheet next below that one with which the comber is in immediate contact, thus when the comber is operating on the topmost sheet, the weighted roller 74 will restupon the next sheet below, and will have a tendency to steady the pile and prevent the adjacent upper sheets from being advanced with the topmost sheet, while at the same time the weighted roller 74 being free to turn, will not interfere with the fanning out of the sheets, and a slight movement being imparted to the sheet below the one on which the comber rests. In other words, the function of the weighted roller 74 is to steady the pile and retard the advance of the sheets below the one engaged by the comber. Thus, when the comber has delivered the topmost sheet, into the bite of the pinch rolls 14-15, as before described, and passes off of the rear end of the topmost sheet to the next sheet below, the weighted roller 74 will at the same time pass off of the end' of the sheet below the topmost sheet and into engagement with the one' below that, and this operation will be repeated throughout the operation of the machine. While this is my preferred adjustment of the weighted roller 74, I do not limit myself to its use in this exact manner, as the weighted roller may be adjusted longitudinally of the machine to any desired position in which it may be found to give advantageous results in the operation of the machine with different kinds of paper, or other sheets or articles, for steadying the pile, and securing the proper advance of the upper sheets by the comber.

lVhile I have only shown one comber for advancing the sheets in the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that a plurality of such eombers may be employed if desired or found convenient as might be the case Where sheets of very considerable width are fed, in which case obviously the shaft 32 can be provided with as many combers as desired. It is also to be understood that while I have shown pinch rolls for feeding and delivering the sheets separately from the machine, any other suitable feeding and delivering mechanism can be substituted therefor.

That I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is zl. In a machine for feeding sheets, or like articles, the combination with means for supportin(r a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding mechanism located adjacent to the deliveryv end of said supporting means, continuously operating sheet advancing means engaging the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation ot' the machine, for advancing the topmovt sheet into position to be engaged by the feeding mechanism, said sheet advancing means having its sheet engaging portion so located with respect to said feeding means that it will pass off of the top sheet of the pile. onto the second sheet as the top sheet is advanced into position to be engaged h v the feeding means, whereby said sheet advancing means will hold the lower sheet against movement with the top sheet as it is drawn off, and will move said lower .sheet forward.

2. ln a machine for feeding sheets or like articles. the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to he fed, feeding mechanism located adjacent t) the delivery end of said supporting meas. continuously operating sheet advancing means engaging the pile of sheets at al times during the normal operation of the machine. for advancing the topmost sheet into position to be engaged by the feeding mechanism.- said sheet advancing means having its sheet engaging portion so located with ref-peet to said feeding means that it will par-s off of the top sheet of the pile. onto the second sheet as the top sheet is ailvanced into position to be engaged hy the feeding means, whereby said sheet adva. cing means will hold the lower sheet against movement 'ith the top sheet as it is drawn oif. and will move said lower sheet forward, said sleet advancing means heing movahle longitudinally with respect to the feeding means, to accommodate sheets or articles of different lengths.

3. ln a machine 'ceding sheets or like articles. the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed. feeding mechanism located adjacent to the delivery end of said supporting means, continuously operating sheet advancing means engaging the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, for advancing the topmost sheet into position to be engaged by the feeding mechanism. said sheet advancing means having its sheet engaging portion so located with respect to said feeding means that it will pass off of the top sheet of the pile, onto the second sheet as the top sheet is advanced into position to be eng id hf.' the feeding means, whereby said sheet aflvancing means will hold the lower sheet against movement with the top sheet as it is drawn off, and will move sad lower sheet forward, and means for operating said sheet advancing means to produce a slower movement of the sheet than the feeding means.

4.111 a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to he fed, feeding mechanism located adiacent to the delivery end of s, i l

.1 supporting means, continuously operating sheet advancing means engagil'lg the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, for advancing the topmost sheet into position to bc cngaginl by the feeding mechanism. said sheet advancing means having its sheet engag' ig portion so located with respect to said feeding means that itwill pass off of the top sheet of the pile, onto the second sheet as the top sheet is advanced into position to be engaged by the feeding means, whereby said sheet advancing` means will hold the lower sheet against movement with the top sheet as it is drawn o'i. and will move said lower sheet forward, means for operating the sheet advancing nicans to produce a slower feeding movement of the sheet than the feeding mean-x, and means for varying the relative speeds of the feeding means and sheet advancing means to accommodate sheets of different lengths.

In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to he fed. feeding mechanism located adjacent to the delivery end of said supporting means, continuously operating sheet advancing means engaging the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of thc machine, for advancing the topmost sheet into position to be engaged by the feeding; mechanism, said sheet advancing means having its sheet engaging portion so located with respect to said feeding means .that it will pass off of the top sheet of the pile, onto the second sheet as the top sheet is advanced into position to be engaged by the feeding means, whereby said sheet advancing means will hold the lower sheet against movement with the top sheet as it is drawn off, and Will move said lower sheet forward, means for operating said sheet advancing means to roduce a slower feeding movement of the s eet than the feeding means, means for adjusting said sheet advancing means longitudinally of the machine with respect to the feeding means, and means for varying the relative speeds of the feeding means and the sheet advancing means.

6. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding mechanism located adjacent to the delivery end of said supporting means, continuously operating sheet advancing means engaging the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, for advancing the topmost sheet into position to be engaged by the feeding mechanism, said sheet advancing means having its sheet engaging portion so located with respect to said feeding means that it Will pass off of the top sheet of the pile, onto the second sheet as the top sheet is advanced into position to be engaged by the feeding means, whereby said sheet advancing means will hold the lower sheet against movement with the top sheet as it is drawn off, and will move said lower sheet forward, means for driving the sheet advancing means to provide a slower movement of the sheet than that produced by the feeding means, and means for varying the speed of said sheet advancing means.

7. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding mechanism located adjacent to the delivery end of said supporting means, continuously operating sheet advancing means engaging the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, for advancing the topmost sheet into position to be engaged by the feeding mechanism, said sheet advancing means having its sheet engaging portion so located with respect to said feeding means that it will pass off of the top sheet of the pile, onto the second sheet as the top sheet is advanced into position to be engaged by the feeding means, whereby said sheet advancing means will hold the lower sheet against movement with the top sheet as it is drawn ofl", and will move said lower sheet forward, means for driving the sheet advancing means to produce a slower movement of the sheet than that produced by the feeding means, means for adjusting the sheet advancing means toward and from the feeding means, and means for varying the speed of the sheet advancing means.

8. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, and feeding means located adjacent to one end of said supporting means, of a continuously rotating comber for advancing the sheets singly into position to be engaged by the feeding means, said comber being at all times in frictional engagement with and supported by the sheets during the normal operation of the machine, said comber being located at such a distance from the feeding means that it Will pass olf of the topmost sheet and immediately engage the next lower sheet, as the topmost sheet reaches the position to be engaged by the feeding means.

9. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding rolls located adjacent to one end of said supporting means, a rotary comber at all times in engagement with the pile of sheets during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its axis located at a distance from the axes of the feed rolls substantially equal to the length of the sheets to be fed, means for driving said feed rolls continuously, and means for continuously driving the rotary comber at a slower speed than the feed rolls.

10. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding rolls located adjacent to one end of said supporting means, a rotary comber at all times in engagement with the pile of sheets during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its axis located at a distance from the axes of the feed rolls substantially equal to the length of the sheets to be fed, means for driving said feed rolls continuously, and means for continuously driving the rotary comber at a slower speed than the feed rolls, said comber being movable longitudinally of the machine with respect to the feed rolls.

1l. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding rolls located adjacent to one end of said supporting means. a rotary comber at all times in engagement with the pile of sheets during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its axis located at a distance from the axes of the feed rolls substantially equal to the length of the sheets to be fed, means for driving said feed rolls continuously, and means for continuously driving the rotary comber at a slower speed than the feed rolls, and variable speed mechanism interposed between the comber and its driving means.

12. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles to be fed, feeding rolls located adjacent to one end of said supporting means, a rotary comber at all times in engagement with the pile of sheets during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its axis located at a distance from the aXes of the feed rolls substantially equal to the length of the sheets to be fed, means for driving said feed rolls continuously, and means for continuously driving the rotary comber at a slower speed than the feed rolls, Said comber being movable longitudinally of the machine toward and from the feed rolls to accommodate sheets or articles of different length, and means for varying the speed of rotation of the comber.

13. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles, feeding means adjacent to one end of said supporting means, for delivering single sheets, continuously operating sheet advancing means, engaging and supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, and having its sheet engaging portions located at a dis-A tance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding means substantially equal to the length of a sheet, whereby the sheet :nlvancing means will pass off of a sheet as it is seized by the feeding means, and will engage the next lover sheet of the pile, and retarding means for engaging the pile of sheets to prevent improper displacement of the sheets.

14. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles` feeding means adjacent to one end of said supporting means, for delivering single sheets. continuously operating sheet advancing means, engaging and supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operatim of the machine, and having its sheet eng: ng portions located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding means substantially equal to the length of a sheet, whereby the sheet advancing means will pass off of a sh iet as it is seized by the feeding means, and will engage the next lower sheet of the pile, and a retarding device supported by the pile of sheets adjacent to the sheet advancing means.

ln a machine for feeding sheets or lilc articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles, feeding` means adjacent to one end of said supporti means, for delivering single sheets, ccntinuously operating sheet advancing means, engaging and supiliorted by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal ope fation of the machine, and having its sheet engaging portions located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engager. by the feeding means substantially equal to the length of a sheet, whereby the sheet advancing means will pass od' of a sheet as it is seized by the feeding means, and will engage the next lower sheet of thepile, and a freely rotatable retarding device supported by the pile of sheets adjacent to the sheet advancing means.

16. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles, feeding means adjacent to one end of said supporting means, for delivering single sheets, continnously operating sheet advancing means, engaging and supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, and having its sheet engaging portions located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding means substantially equal to the length of a sheet, whereby the sheet advancing means will pass off of a sheet as it is seized by the feeding means, and will engage the next lower sheet of the pile, a retarding device supported by the pile of sheets adjacent to the sheet advancing means, and means for adjusting said retarding device longitudinally of the machine with respect to the sheet advancing means.

17. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles, feeding means adjacent to one end of said supporting means, for delivering single sheets, continuously operating sheet advancing means, engaging and supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, and having its sheet engaging portions located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding means substantially equal to the length of a sheet, whereby the sheet advancing means will pass oftl of a sheet as it is seized by the feeding means, and will engage the next lower sheet of the pile, a retarding desupported by the pile of sheets adjacent to the sheet advancing means, said sheet advancing means and retarding device being capable of joint adjustment longitudinally of the machine, to accommodate sheets of varying lengths.

18. In a machine for feeding sheets or like articles, the combination with means for supporting a pile of sheets or articles, feeding` means adjacent to one end of said supporting means, for delivering single sheets, continuously operating sheet advancing means, engaging and supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, and having its sheet engaging portions located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding means substantially equal to the length of a sheet, whereby the sheet advancing means will pass off of a sheet as it is seized by the feeding means, and will engage the next lower sheet of the pile, a retarding dcvice supported by the pile of sheets adjacent to the sheet advancing means, said sheet advancing means and retarding device being capable of joint adjustment longitudinally of the machine, to accommodate sheets of varying lengths, and said retarding device being capable of independent adjustment longitudinally of the machine, with respect to the sheet advancing means.

19. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with a table for supporting a pile of sheets, feeding mechanism adjacent to one end of the table to deliver single sheets, a continuously rotating comber, movable vertically, and engaging and being supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its sheet engaging portion located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding mechanism substantially equal to the length of the sheets being fed, whereby the comber passes off of the topmost sheet as it is engaged by the feeding mechanism, and engages the sheet below, and a retarding device for engaging the pile of sheets and preventing the accif dental movement of the sheets.

20. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with a table for supporting a pile of sheets, feeding mechanism adjacent to one end of the table to deliver single sheets, a continuously rotating comber, movable vertically, and engaging and being supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its sheet engaging portion located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding mechanism substantially equal to the length of the sheets being fed, whereby the comber passes off of the topmost sheet as it is engaged by the feeding mechanism, and engages the sheet below, and a retarding device supported by the pile of sheets, and so located as to engage a sheet thereof below the one engaged by the comber.

21. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with a table for supporting a pile of sheets, feeding mechanism adjacent to one end of the table to deliver single sheets, a continuously rotating comber, movable vertically, and engaging and being supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its sheet engaging portion located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding mechanism substantially equal to the length of the sheets being fed, whereby the comber passes off of the topmost sheet as it is engaged by the feeding mechanism, and engages the sheet below7 a retarding device comprising a freely rotatable roller, supported by the pile of sheets, and so located with respect to the comber as to engage a sheet below that engaged by the comber.

22. In a machine for feeding sheets and like articles, the combination with a table for supporting a pile of sheets, feeding mechanism adjacent to one end of the table to deliver single sheets, a continuously rotating comber, movable vertically, and engaging and being supported by the pile of sheets at all times during the normal operation of the machine, said comber having its sheet engaging portion located at a distance from the point at which the sheets are engaged by the feeding mechanism substantially equal to the length of the sheets being fed, whereby the comber passes off of the topmost sheet as it is engaged by the feeding mechanism, and engages the sheet below, a retarding device comprising a freely rotatable roller supported by the pile of sheets, and capable of vertical movement, and means for adjusting said roller longitudinally of the machine with respect to the comber.

In testimony whereof I affix m si nature.

ROBERT E. K 4 ER. 

